The modern term "body mass index" (BMI) for the ratio of human body weight to squared height was coined in a paper published in the July 1972 edition of the Journal of Chronic Diseases by Ancel Keys and others. According to Lars Grue and Arvid Heiberg in the Scandinavian Journal of Disability Research, Quetelet's idealization of the average man would be elaborated upon by Francis Galton a decade later in the development of Eugenics. ![]() Quetelet thought of the average man as a social ideal, and developed the body mass index as a means of discovering the socially ideal human person. Instead, it was a component of his study of l'homme moyen, or the average man. Quetelet himself never intended for the index, then called the Quetelet Index, to be used as a means of medical assessment. Īdolphe Quetelet, a Belgian astronomer, mathematician, statistician, and sociologist, devised the basis of the BMI between 18 as he developed what he called "social physics". When used to predict an individual's health, rather than as a statistical measurement for groups, the BMI has limitations that can make it less useful than some of the alternatives, especially when applied to individuals with abdominal obesity, short stature, or high muscle mass.īMIs under 20 and over 25 have been associated with higher all-cause mortality, with the risk increasing with distance from the 20–25 range. Major adult BMI classifications are underweight (under 18.5 kg/m 2), normal weight (18.5 to 24.9), overweight (25 to 29.9), and obese (30 or more). The BMI is a convenient rule of thumb used to broadly categorize a person as based on tissue mass ( muscle, fat, and bone) and height. The table may also show contour lines or colours for different BMI categories. The table displays BMI as a function of mass and height and may show other units of measurement (converted to metric units for the calculation). The multiplication and division may be carried out directly, by hand or using a calculator, or indirectly using a lookup table (or chart). The BMI may be determined first by measuring its components by means of a weighing scale and a stadiometer. The BMI is defined as the body mass divided by the square of the body height, and is expressed in units of kg/m 2, resulting from mass in kilograms (kg) and height in metres (m). Please seek further advice from your GP.Body mass index ( BMI) is a value derived from the mass ( weight) and height of a person. If you're suffering from an eating disorder, the BMI calculator results do not apply. Your can use your BMI result as a starting point for further discussion with your GP about your weight and your general health.įind out more in How your GP can help and check out the Change4Life website for practical tips on staying healthy as a family. However, the BMI is a relatively straightforward and convenient method of assessing someone's weight. adults who lose muscle as they get older may fall in the "healthy weight" range even though they may be carrying excess fat.very muscular adults and athletes may be classed "overweight" or "obese" even though their body fat is low.The adult BMI does not take into account age, gender or muscle mass. The BMI can't tell the difference between excess fat, muscle, or bone. Your BMI can tell you if you're carrying too much weight but it can't tell if you're carrying too much fat. If you're concerned about your child's weight, contact your GP who may be able to refer you to your local healthy lifestyle programme for children, young people and families. Measuring waist size is not routinely advised for children because it doesn't take their height into account. For example, a girl on the 75th centile is heavier than 75 out of 100 other girls her age. ![]() Find out more in very overweight childrenĪ child's BMI is expressed as a "centile" to show how their BMI compares to children who took part in national surveys. If you're concerned about your child's weight, see your GP. Get tips on how to encourage your child to be more active and eat well
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